Sophia wrote:
This has been a very helpful service at a worrying time, very uptodate and informative and frankly, puts BBC Oxford to shame, many thanks, 'Times'

Thank you very much for saying so. We're trying.

[quote][p][bold]Sophia[/bold] wrote:
This has been a very helpful service at a worrying time, very uptodate and informative and frankly, puts BBC Oxford to shame, many thanks, 'Times'[/p][/quote]Thank you very much for saying so. We're trying.Jason Collie

Wonderful service! Thank you so much. A real boon, and I'm sad to say that I agree with Sophia. They are paid to provide a public service. You are a commercial organisation. It confirms, if that were needed, how lucky we are to have such a vibrant local press in Oxfordshire.

Wonderful service! Thank you so much. A real boon, and I'm sad to say that I agree with Sophia. They are paid to provide a public service. You are a commercial organisation. It confirms, if that were needed, how lucky we are to have such a vibrant local press in Oxfordshire.Man on the Green

Would it be possible for someone to explain why on earth these idiots with canoes if it necessary to paddle in sewage water. What are they attempting to prove? They go to great lengths to get their canoes to the flood water only to paddle for approx 100-200m, brainless prats if you ask me! Most canoeists want White water not **** water!

Would it be possible for someone to explain why on earth these idiots with canoes if it necessary to paddle in sewage water. What are they attempting to prove? They go to great lengths to get their canoes to the flood water only to paddle for approx 100-200m, brainless prats if you ask me! Most canoeists want White water not **** water!Watch your back

Already we see that Labour is blaming the floods on the Coalition Government - not so much for the weather, as for cuts to the various Agencies which deal with floods and other disasters. Yet it was a Labour government, and not 'Cameron's Cavaliers' which chopped £200 million off funding, back in 2006. Maybe a few hundred £millions might be a 'drop in the ocean' compared to overall government spending (by any political Party) but had that money been invested in helping to try and address issues, the effects of flooding might have been reduced, and the cost of clearing-up and repairing damage caused by flooding, also reduced. If, as now seems likely, we get a cold Winter with snow, then we'll have frozen ground which won't soak-up groundwater, and more floodwater when the snow thaws. So, it could yet prove to be a very costly Winter - even if some parts of the UK might enjoy a White Christmas! As for all the cut-backs which the Country is suffering from, and the lack of investment because of those cut-backs, let's just remember that the government didn't put the UK into massive debt for the benefit of the children, the sick, the old people, the homeless or those who so very much need our help, but to bail-out the greedy banks and financial institutions from the very 'sea of mayhem and disaster' which they had created - and that government wasn't led by the Tories and LibDems, but by Labour! So, it's somewhat ironic that whilst Labour-led City Council is spending £millions on a new swimming pool for Blackbird Leys (which only Labour seems to have really wanted) it seems incapable of helping to invest in flood protection for the thousands of homes and businesses which have once more been affected by flooding.

Already we see that Labour is blaming the floods on the Coalition Government - not so much for the weather, as for cuts to the various Agencies which deal with floods and other disasters. Yet it was a Labour government, and not 'Cameron's Cavaliers' which chopped £200 million off funding, back in 2006. Maybe a few hundred £millions might be a 'drop in the ocean' compared to overall government spending (by any political Party) but had that money been invested in helping to try and address issues, the effects of flooding might have been reduced, and the cost of clearing-up and repairing damage caused by flooding, also reduced. If, as now seems likely, we get a cold Winter with snow, then we'll have frozen ground which won't soak-up groundwater, and more floodwater when the snow thaws. So, it could yet prove to be a very costly Winter - even if some parts of the UK might enjoy a White Christmas! As for all the cut-backs which the Country is suffering from, and the lack of investment because of those cut-backs, let's just remember that the government didn't put the UK into massive debt for the benefit of the children, the sick, the old people, the homeless or those who so very much need our help, but to bail-out the greedy banks and financial institutions from the very 'sea of mayhem and disaster' which they had created - and that government wasn't led by the Tories and LibDems, but by Labour! So, it's somewhat ironic that whilst Labour-led City Council is spending £millions on a new swimming pool for Blackbird Leys (which only Labour seems to have really wanted) it seems incapable of helping to invest in flood protection for the thousands of homes and businesses which have once more been affected by flooding.Myron Blatz

I'd like to add my thanks to the Oxford Mail for giving us constant up-to-date information. I live very close to Vicarage Lane and am grateful not only to you for your updates, but also to the council, emergency services and environment agency for working so hard for us 24/7in pretty miserable conditions.
Totally agree about BBC Oxford and don't know why they even bother. I gave up looking at their website a long time ago.

I'd like to add my thanks to the Oxford Mail for giving us constant up-to-date information. I live very close to Vicarage Lane and am grateful not only to you for your updates, but also to the council, emergency services and environment agency for working so hard for us 24/7in pretty miserable conditions.
Totally agree about BBC Oxford and don't know why they even bother. I gave up looking at their website a long time ago.Annie Star

Far from clear what Myron is complaining about - perhaps life generally - but more constructively, I'm impressed by the way the various agencies have worked together on flood prevention efforts and the amount of investment in Oxford over recent years in investigating problems, clearing water courses and preparing emergency pumps and barriers. There's no doubt they have saved peoples homes this time and no doubt in future. I'm impressed and grateful, as I am sure many others are.

Far from clear what Myron is complaining about - perhaps life generally - but more constructively, I'm impressed by the way the various agencies have worked together on flood prevention efforts and the amount of investment in Oxford over recent years in investigating problems, clearing water courses and preparing emergency pumps and barriers. There's no doubt they have saved peoples homes this time and no doubt in future. I'm impressed and grateful, as I am sure many others are.Sophia

I notice that at 4.25 pm you again confirmed that Abingdon Road is still blocked and that police were to enforce this due to the cars still ignoring the 'closed' signs. I have just returned from work (long journey from the City Centre) and have seen no police and more than half a dozen cars flouting the road closed signs as I walked through the area to access where I live. The water washed up by these inconsiderate drivers causes no end of problems. Please don't drive through it!

I notice that at 4.25 pm you again confirmed that Abingdon Road is still blocked and that police were to enforce this due to the cars still ignoring the 'closed' signs. I have just returned from work (long journey from the City Centre) and have seen no police and more than half a dozen cars flouting the road closed signs as I walked through the area to access where I live. The water washed up by these inconsiderate drivers causes no end of problems. Please don't drive through it!Penny Black

Drivers continuing to ignore Road Closed signs and driving down Abingdon Road, going through flooded water very fast and absolutely soaking residents on the footpaths. Isn't it enough that where're surrounded by flood water, please don't soak us too.

Drivers continuing to ignore Road Closed signs and driving down Abingdon Road, going through flooded water very fast and absolutely soaking residents on the footpaths. Isn't it enough that where're surrounded by flood water, please don't soak us too.Wet Feet

Penny Black wrote:
I notice that at 4.25 pm you again confirmed that Abingdon Road is still blocked and that police were to enforce this due to the cars still ignoring the 'closed' signs. I have just returned from work (long journey from the City Centre) and have seen no police and more than half a dozen cars flouting the road closed signs as I walked through the area to access where I live. The water washed up by these inconsiderate drivers causes no end of problems. Please don't drive through it!

the thing is the police cant say they were busy as twice tonight i have been buy the little police station in b/leys and the pcso's are just sat there in the place they always hide in. I think someone from the ox mail should ask for a statement from the police to find there reasons for not being there to support the area in a time of need

[quote][p][bold]Penny Black[/bold] wrote:
I notice that at 4.25 pm you again confirmed that Abingdon Road is still blocked and that police were to enforce this due to the cars still ignoring the 'closed' signs. I have just returned from work (long journey from the City Centre) and have seen no police and more than half a dozen cars flouting the road closed signs as I walked through the area to access where I live. The water washed up by these inconsiderate drivers causes no end of problems. Please don't drive through it![/p][/quote]the thing is the police cant say they were busy as twice tonight i have been buy the little police station in b/leys and the pcso's are just sat there in the place they always hide in. I think someone from the ox mail should ask for a statement from the police to find there reasons for not being there to support the area in a time of needfred120

To be fair the council are partially to blame too. They don't review closures in places like Clifton Hampden, which has no adjoining properties and is easily passable even in my Golf. Thus people get to Abingdon Road and think it's another unnecessary closure and ignore it.

Road closures should be respected but they should also only be used if the road is impassable, or there are properties that would be affected by allowing traffic. They shouldn't be used - as in Clifton Hampden - because there are a couple of big puddles on the road.

To be fair the council are partially to blame too. They don't review closures in places like Clifton Hampden, which has no adjoining properties and is easily passable even in my Golf. Thus people get to Abingdon Road and think it's another unnecessary closure and ignore it.
Road closures should be respected but they should also only be used if the road is impassable, or there are properties that would be affected by allowing traffic. They shouldn't be used - as in Clifton Hampden - because there are a couple of big puddles on the road.iklhik